Domain II, Strand 2: Interdependence
Domain II, Strand 2: Cycle of Matter and Energy Flow
Domain II, Strand 5: Earth in the Solar System
24 interconnected species
on Manana Island
Introduction
The Hawaiian Islands have very unique species found here and nowhere else on Earth. This is mainly the result of our extreme isolation: we're in the middle of the world's largest ocean. This kind of isolation meant that no land mammals ever got to Hawaii (until humans brought them), and native species evolved in mammal-free environments. Such diverse, mammal-free environments are situated close together in Hawaii; species could easily colonize new habitat, then evolve.
These forces produced myriad new species and many adaptive radiations. In general, native Hawaiian species are gentle to humans. There were no biting or stinging insects in ancient Hawaii, and no plant had thorns or poison that would work against a mammal such as us.
The most famous of these species are the honeycreepers, 51 species of finches that evolved remarkable beak shape and feather color diversity and filled a variety of ecological niches. Humans changed the landscape for these birds, introducing new predators and eventually avian diseases. The result: more than half of these species is now extinct. Those that still exist are very rare. Students in Hawaii don't generally see many native Hawaiian birds.
Trematalobelia macrostachys
The largest plant radiation on Earth occurred in Hawaii when a tiny-flowered lobelia evolved into more than 125 species of spectacularly flowered lobelioids. Typical lobelias are small herbs pollinated by tiny insects, whereas Hawaiian lobelioids can reach 9m, have bark and are pollinated by curved-beak honeycreepers and large moths.
There are native Hawaiian happyface spiders, tiny leaf foragers with distinctive abdominal patterns. There are native Hawaiian carnivorous caterpillars that hide as a twig to pounce on tiny insects that wander too close. It's hard to imagine how the ancestors of native Hawaiian tree snails got to the islands, perhaps as eggs stuck in mud on the feet of migrating birds. But they diversified into many species, each with its own attractive and distinctive shell pattern.
diversity of Hyposmocoma cases
Perhaps the most amazing animal radiation in Hawaii produced more than 400 species of Hyposmocoma caterpillars. Most species are endemic to a single island, many to a single volcano. They inhabit a wide array of environments, living on dry rock, on tree bark, on leaves, in streams, in rotting logs; and different species graze lichen, fungi and algae, eat rotting wood, and hunt native snails or other caterpillars. Hyposmocoma, an endemic genus, produced the only snail-hunting caterpillars in the world. Unlike typical caterpillars, Hyposmocoma make their chrysalis cases soon after hatching, decorate and elongate their cases as they grow, and use them for shelter and camouflage. The cases are colorful and look like candy wrappers, bugles, cones, purses, oysters, crabs, and burritos. Most incredibly, a dozen of these endemic caterpillar species can breathe both air and water! They are the world's only truly amphibious animals (can breathe both air and water during the same life stage).
Learning about native Hawaiian species will enrich a student's study of biology. For students from Hawaii, they can be a source of pride. This is their biological inheritance; and what an inheritance! Hawaii's endemism rate is second highest in the world (only New Zealand has more endemic species). It would be a shame to throw away such a rich inheritance by going through life without enjoying our wonderful native species. With pride for native organisms comes affection and conservation. Hawaii has the nation's highest concentration of endangered species; inspiring young environmentalists should be a moral imperative for biology teachers.
Biology from Hawaii
high school biology using Hawaiian examplesDomain II, Strand 2: Biological Evolution
Domain II, Strand 2: Biological Evolution
Domain II, Strand 2: Cycle of Matter and Energy Flow
Domain II, Strand 5: Earth in the Solar System
on Manana Island
Introduction
The Hawaiian Islands have very unique species found here and nowhere else on Earth. This is mainly the result of our extreme isolation: we're in the middle of the world's largest ocean. This kind of isolation meant that no land mammals ever got to Hawaii (until humans brought them), and native species evolved in mammal-free environments. Such diverse, mammal-free environments are situated close together in Hawaii; species could easily colonize new habitat, then evolve.
These forces produced myriad new species and many adaptive radiations. In general, native Hawaiian species are gentle to humans. There were no biting or stinging insects in ancient Hawaii, and no plant had thorns or poison that would work against a mammal such as us.
The most famous of these species are the honeycreepers, 51 species of finches that evolved remarkable beak shape and feather color diversity and filled a variety of ecological niches. Humans changed the landscape for these birds, introducing new predators and eventually avian diseases. The result: more than half of these species is now extinct. Those that still exist are very rare. Students in Hawaii don't generally see many native Hawaiian birds.
There are native Hawaiian happyface spiders, tiny leaf foragers with distinctive abdominal patterns. There are native Hawaiian carnivorous caterpillars that hide as a twig to pounce on tiny insects that wander too close. It's hard to imagine how the ancestors of native Hawaiian tree snails got to the islands, perhaps as eggs stuck in mud on the feet of migrating birds. But they diversified into many species, each with its own attractive and distinctive shell pattern.
Perhaps the most amazing animal radiation in Hawaii produced more than 400 species of Hyposmocoma caterpillars. Most species are endemic to a single island, many to a single volcano. They inhabit a wide array of environments, living on dry rock, on tree bark, on leaves, in streams, in rotting logs; and different species graze lichen, fungi and algae, eat rotting wood, and hunt native snails or other caterpillars. Hyposmocoma, an endemic genus, produced the only snail-hunting caterpillars in the world. Unlike typical caterpillars, Hyposmocoma make their chrysalis cases soon after hatching, decorate and elongate their cases as they grow, and use them for shelter and camouflage. The cases are colorful and look like candy wrappers, bugles, cones, purses, oysters, crabs, and burritos. Most incredibly, a dozen of these endemic caterpillar species can breathe both air and water! They are the world's only truly amphibious animals (can breathe both air and water during the same life stage).
Learning about native Hawaiian species will enrich a student's study of biology. For students from Hawaii, they can be a source of pride. This is their biological inheritance; and what an inheritance! Hawaii's endemism rate is second highest in the world (only New Zealand has more endemic species). It would be a shame to throw away such a rich inheritance by going through life without enjoying our wonderful native species. With pride for native organisms comes affection and conservation. Hawaii has the nation's highest concentration of endangered species; inspiring young environmentalists should be a moral imperative for biology teachers.